Natural History Books

Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Bumblebees is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct and detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.Bumblebees are some of our most familiar insects, and are among the few that are almost universally viewed as friendly' their low buzzing is the quintessential sound of our gardens in the summertime. Spotlight Bumblebees considers all 24 UK bumblebee species, examining what made the group so successful and how circumstances have led to the survival of some species but the precipitous decline of the majority, highlighting the dangers we all face if populations continue to plummet. Separate chapters cover all aspects of bumblebees' biology and lifestyles, from spring queens emerging from dark overwintering chambers to establish their nests, to the drone swarms that herald the end of the bumblebee season. Bumblebees around the world are studied, including in the southern hemisphere where Europe's decliTable of ContentsMeet the Bumblebees Relatives and Predecessors What Makes a Bumblebee? At Home with the Bumblebees Flowers, Foraging and Feeding Threats Nature’s Little Pollinators Watching Bumblebees Bumblebees and People Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisWith weather conditions continually evolving, skippers need to factor forecast data into every passage plan and be prepared to modify it if the situation changes. This spiral-bound instant reference guide will help you draw the most relevant weather information from a variety of sources, understand and apply broader forecast data to your location and your anticipated route, and know when and how to make those necessary alterations.In clear, practical language, and with diagrams, photographs, explanations and bulleted lists, the book is also a useful primer or overview for RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore students by following the contents of the course:- Basic terms / the Beaufort Scale- Air masses- Cloud types- Weather patterns associated with pressure and frontal systems- Sources of weather information- Interpret a shipping forecast, weatherfax and weather satellite information- Land and sea breezes- Sea fog- Use of a barometTrade ReviewA valuable tool for yachtsmen. Written in a clear and practical manner. Spiral bound and splash proof for an extra level of practicality. * Sailing Today *Helpful for beginners and a valuable aide-memoire for the experienced passage planner. * The Cruising Association *Table of ContentsRough proposed structure: Introduction Putting this book in the context as an aide-memoire, aimed at minimising risk when at sea. Terminology and acronyms. Weather – Large scale A section on large-scale weather. Other more-detailed publications and sources of information. Weather – small scale Effects of headlands, straits etc. Sea breeze effects. Thunderstorms. Visibility. Communications ‘Official’ GMDSS communications systems, VHF, NAVTEX, Rafiofax, RTTY, Inmarsat. De facto source of the same information using Internet systems near the coast and out at sea. Available services. GMDSS forecasts. Information available on the Internet. Using the information Planning for the next few days. Reducing the uncertainty. Forecasts prior to departure. Monitoring on passage.

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Book Synopsis2018 INDIES Winner Gold - Body, Mind, Spirit (Adult Nonfiction) Nautilus Book Awards Gold Winner Rosemary is for remembrance; sage is for wisdom. Would meditating on the starflower help heal you? Does the spirit of sweet violet have something to offer you today? Contemporary herbalist Maia Toll, author of The Illustrated Bestiary and The Illustrated Crystallary, profiles the mystical, magical, bewitching personalities of 36 powerful herbs, fruits, and flowers in this stunning volume. The book includes a deck of 36 beautifully illustrated oracle cards - one for each plant - and ideas for readings and rituals to help you access your intuition, navigate each day's joys and problems, and tap into each plant's unique powers for healing, guidance, and wisdom. Also available: The Illustrated Herbiary Collectible Box Set and The Illustrated Bestiary Collectible Box Set.

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Book SynopsisThis new, thoroughly revised edition of Bradt's Southern Africa Wildlife guide provides an overview of all southern African wildlife - not only 'big game' and other large mammals, but also birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Excellent for independent travellers, it is reliable as a standalone guide combining both wildlife and visitor information, and is also a perfect complement to traditional field guides. Countries covered include Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe, with Malawi and Zambia both added to this new edition. Colour photographs illustrate all key species and the engaging text extends beyond basic identification features to illuminate the natural history and ecology of the wildlife that visitors will encounter. Text has been updated throughout to reflect the latest conservation initiatives and wildlife population figures. Included are a practical guide to tracks and signs, plus top tips for optimising your wildlife experience, as well as a 'where to go' overview which outlines the key wildlife attractions of each country and, together with a seasonal highlights calendar, enables visitors to plan a safari that suits their interests.Trade Review"Not only a fascinating read but a mine of information about the sheer abundance and variety of wildlife that calls this part of Africa home. From the savannahs of Kruger to the wetlands of the Okavango, to the arid wastes of the Namib Desert and the slopes of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands; and from the Big Five to the horse-like antelope, thick-knee wader and spotted joker butterfly, Unwin has it covered." Travel AfricaTable of ContentsImpressions Introduction What's new?, How to use this book, Learning the lingo, The southern African environment Habitats Savannah woodland, Grassland, Forest, Desert, The arid zone, Fynbos, Wetlands and waterways, The coast, The human landscape Mammals Carnivores, African elephant, Hoofed mammals, Primates, Ant-eating oddities, Small mammals, Marine mammals Birds Seabirds and waterbirds, Ground birds, Raptors, 'Near-passerines': a mixed bag of birds, Perching birds Reptiles and Amphibians Tortoises, turtles and terrapins, Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, Frogs Invertebrates Millipedes and centipedes, Arachnids, Insects Tracks and Signs Tracks, Droppings, Who's at home?, Feeding signs Making the Most of It Planning your trip, Looking for animals, Other ways to watch wildlife, Roughing it, Photography, Back home Where to Go Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe Further Information Index

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Book SynopsisPause for a moment and look up at the skies. There is ever-changing beauty to behold in the cloudscape. Learn the difference between common cloud types (do you know your cirrostratus from your cumulonimbus?) and find out which is most likely to herald the arrival of the rains or approaching fair weather. - Includes 30 illustrated cards plus an altitude map poster and introduction to cloud spotting- Learn the difference between common cloud types and find out more about their formation and what they may mean for the day ahead- A mindful new challenge to break through the constant noise of our busy modern world- An inspirational gift for those who want to stay connected with nature and find some headspace in a busy world- The author, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founded the Cloud Appreciation Society and is an established author on cloud spotting

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Book SynopsisMake a splash at your next card game by swapping your standard card deck with the most spectacular animals from the world's oceans set of playing cards.52 CARD DECK - The interesting Ocean cards follow the same style as a standard card deck with 52 cards in 4 suits meaning they can be used in the same way.FUN, COLOURFUL ILLUSTRATIONS: Focusing on illustrations of ocean mammals, fish, molluscs and more, plus two jokers, Holly Exley an illustrator and watercolour enthusiast, based in Derbyshire has capturing the life of the oceans so graciously.BOOKLET INCLUDED: Discover fascinating facts about all 54 ocean mammals, fish, molluscs and more in the accompanying booklet.EASY HANDLING: The cards will not crack or bend when shuffled or flexed due to their 300gsm weight. Held within a box these cards are perfect for taking anywhere on the go.GIFTS: With a tremendous interest in ocean, the playing cards make the perfect gift for any card or ocean enthusiast within all age ranges.The cards showcase familiar favourites like the clownfish and bottlenose dolphin to the formidable fangtooth and wonderfully weird Christmas tree worm, these colourful creatures will make waves in any game.After playing your hand, discover fascinating facts about all 54 animals in the accompanying booklet.Other Laurence King Publishing titles included in the Ocean series include I Saw It First! Ocean and Ocean Bingo

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Book SynopsisA pictorial celebration of UK butterflies, this new title showcases moments rarely captured with such craft. Alongside his detailed photography, Andrew Fusek Peters describes the natural traits and challenges of each species he encounters, covered in dedicated chapters and ordered chronologically through the course of the year.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewJ.M. Coetzee, Winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature "[A] beautifully constructed, troubling, provacative book which resonates in the mind and heart long after you've turned the last page."--Helen Kaye, The Jerusalem Post "If Coetzee ... were an animal, he would be a fox-quick, aloof and crafty... [A]nimal rights and ethical vegetarianism are natural subjects for him. The debate about them turns on questions of suffering, something to which Coetzee's sensorium is pitched with particular keenness."--Benjamin Kunkel, The Nation "The audience of the 1997-98 Tanner Lectures at Princeton probably expected South African novelist Coetzee to deliver a pair of formal essays... Instead, he gave his listeners fiction: a philosophical narrative about an imaginary feminist novelist ... and the lectures she reads at the fictional Appleton College."--Publishers Weekly "For Coetzee fans and others interested in the links between philosophy, reason, and the rights of nonhumans."--Booklist "Fluent, challenging lectures on the ethics that shape the human-animal relationship... Coetzee takes no prisoners... [An] ethical tinderbox."--Kirkus Reviews "An accessible, thought-provoking introduction to the issues surrounding animal rights."--Adam Lively, The Sunday Telegraph "Coetzee's dense, witty hybrid is very welcome; ... [he] brings a rich array of themes into play, including the differences between animals and humans, the nature of philosophy and poetry, the purpose of a university, the role of a reason and the emotions in moral deliberation."--Ben Rogers, Financial Times "The Lives of Animals is a stimulating and worrying book. It is hard to imagine anyone coming away from it without a new perspective on our relation not only to animals but to the natural world in general, and, indeed, to ourselves."--John Banville, The Irish Times "The Lives of Animals is a moral argument within a fictional framework... But fiction has the power to disturb and inspire strong emotions, and this book, thoughtfully argued and committed, is certainly a case in point."--Maren Meinhardt, Times Literary Supplement "I found The Lives of Animals a genuinely troubling book... I imagine that Coetzee feels the force of almost all the ideas and emotions that his characters express. He is working and living at the edge of our moral sensibilities about animals."--Ian Hacking, The New York Review of Books "There is a general message that resonates throughout this novella, and one that I found quite compelling. It is that we often assess our relationships with animals based on whether they have human-like mental status, like rationality or self-consciousness, and if they don't, then we feel justified in using them as objects ... I found the book deeply disturbing ... [It] offers a passionate and compelling look at one side of the debate."--Asif A. Ghazanfar, Nature Neuroscience "A little-known but brilliant tour de force... It's the most artful, thoughtful piece of writing I've come across on the subject of animal rights."--Marni Jackson, The Globe and MailTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION Amy Gutmann 3 THE LIVES OF ANIMALS J. M. Coetzee The Philosophers and the Animals 15 The Poets and the Animals 47 REFLECTIONS Marjorie Garber 73 Peter Singer 85 Wendy Doniger 93 Barbara Smuts 107 CONTRIBUTORS 121 INDEX 123

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Book SynopsisA "companion to Welcome to the Universe, a ... bestseller that was inspired by the ... introductory astronomy course for non-science majors that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott taught together at Princeton. [It] features more than one hundred problems and exercises used in the original course"--Amazon.com.Trade Review"This book provides a very valuable resource for anyone who wants to acquire a reasonably quantitative understanding of introductory astronomy. The questions cover a broad range of interesting topics, and the solutions are thorough and often enlightening, providing additional insights into the subject matter."—Alex Filippenko, University of California, Berkeley"The difference between a good astronomy course and a great astronomy course is great problems. This book is a gold mine of great problems for introductory astronomy, problems that can be solved with high school algebra and run the gamut from earth-smashing asteroids to neutron stars, black holes, the fate of the universe, and the search for life on other worlds. It will be a valuable resource for anyone teaching introductory astronomy and an exhilarating challenge for students who want to sharpen their wits against the cosmos."—David Weinberg, Ohio State University"A fantastic asset. The hardest part of teaching introductory astronomy courses is writing engaging, informative problems at the appropriate level. This book provides a treasure trove of wonderfully instructive material that is much better than anything else out there. I will be using Tyson, Strauss, and Gott for a long time to come."—James H. Applegate, Columbia University"A marvelous compendium. This companion book demonstrates in a playful manner how, with no more than high school algebra, we can obtain a deeper appreciation of the properties of the infinitely large and small, and deepen our conversation with the cosmos."—Trinh X. Thuan, University of Virginia"A wonderful collection of introductory problems that convey the wonders of the universe and fundamental concepts in astronomy through specific examples and numbers. A fantastic resource for the classroom and aspiring astronomers."—Abraham Loeb, Harvard University"Microorganisms on Europa, colliding black holes, cosmic inflation, and much more are covered in this expansive and thoughtfully selected collection of exciting problems in astrophysics—even a two-dimensional Tardis appears! Both students and experienced astronomers should come away enriched through study of these problems and the techniques presented to crack them."—W. Niel Brandt, Pennsylvania State University

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""The world is full of liars, a fact brilliantly depicted in Lixing Sun’s slender but important book about cheating and deception among animals and plants, as well as that hairless bipedal species that is the biggest deceiver of them all. . . . A tour de force of evolutionary biology. . . . Fascinating."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"The accessible prose offers an eye-opening take on lying in the natural world and how evolutionary pressures to deceive impact human behavior. The smart parallels between humans and animals make for an insightful outing." * Publishers Weekly *"[An] intriguing introduction to the domain of dishonesty."---Tony Miksanek, Booklist"Buckle up for a riveting journey into the wide world of deception."---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today"Lixing Sun treats this topic with both a serious scientific demeanour and a welcome injection of wry humour."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"Fascinating"---Patricia MacDuff, British Naturalists Association News Bulletin"The author has managed the seemingly impossible by making quite complex theories and rules both enjoyable to read about and relatively easy to understand."---Terry Freedman, Teachwire"Through various enlightening and entertaining examples . . . Sun (Central Washington Univ.) educates readers about the biological underpinnings of deceiving—by exploiting cognitive loopholes—and lying—by altering truthful information in communication—for which demonstrating the cheater's intention is neither easy nor necessary in nonhuman species."---J-B. Leca, Choice

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is beautiful."---Charles Bergquist, Science Friday"All the major seaweed families and genera are covered in exquisite detail, beautifully complemented by stunning photographs and bold layouts which draw your eye to the page. . . . Whether you’re a hardened phycologist or just interested in finding out more about the delicate fronds that waft around your ankles in the shallows, this is definitely a user-friendly guide. Highly recommended."---Rose Fulton, Green Fuse"This concise and lavish volume is almost as good as a trip to the shore."---S. T. Meiers, Choice

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Book SynopsisFamily Dog by Richard Wolters offers a step-by-step guide to training any dog in 16 weeks. It covers choosing the right dog, play and relaxation benefits, effective communication, training fundamentals, grooming tips, diet, first-aid, and more. Illustrated with over 200 photos, it simplifies dog training for all ages.

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Book Synopsis‘Everything you ever wanted to know about cats in books. A wonderful idea, beautifully executed.’ - Viv Groskop Cats have provided the inspiration for an incredible range of fiction, memoir and poetry, from ancient myths and fables to much-loved children’s books, and from classic tales to contemporary novels. Featuring such famous feline characters as Puss in Boots, Tom Kitten, Pangur Bán, the Cheshire Cat, Macavity, Pluto and Bob the street cat, this light-hearted book is a whirlwind journey through the history of literary cats, uncovering their domestication, early cultural beginnings and religious associations, exploring their roles in different literary genres and revealing some real-life authors’ cats, including those belonging to Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Patricia Highsmith and Muriel Spark. A section on cats in world literature introduces narrator cats and cat companions from Japan, Eastern Europe, France, Greece, Germany and Finland, demonstrating their enduring worldwide appeal. A must for all cat-lovers, this book celebrates the inspirational connections between our favourite feline friends and the literary imagination.Table of ContentsContents Introduction Felines of Note Classic Cats Poetical Cats Books for Kittens Talking Cats Authors and their Cats Astrocats Cats in Fact Cats in Translation Notes Further Reading Index

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Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 BRITISH BOOK DESIGN & PRODUCTION AWARDS*  THE IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER and IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘A masterpiece’ Max Porter ‘One of the most inspired items of environmental literature in recent years.’ Irish Independent If trees have memories, respond to stress, and communicate, what can they tell us? And will we listen? A stunning international collaboration that reveals how trees make our world, change our minds and rewild our lives – from root to branch to seed. In this beautifully illustrated collection, artist Katie Holten gifts readers her visual Tree Alphabet and uses it to masterfully translate and illuminate pieces from some of the world’s most exciting writers and artists, activists and ecologists. Holten guides us on a journey from prehistoric cave paintings and creation myths to the death of a 3,500 year-old cypress tree, from Tree Clocks in Mongolia and forest fragments in the Amazon to the language of fossil poetry. In doing so, she unearths a new way of seeing the natural beauty that surrounds us and creates an urgent reminder of what could happen if we allow it to slip away. Printed in deep green ink, The Language of Trees is a celebratory homage filled with prose, poetry and art from over fifty collaborators, including Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Macfarlane, Zadie Smith, Radiohead, Elizabeth Kolbert, Amitav Ghosh, Richard Powers, Suzanne Simard, Gaia Vince, Tacita Dean, Plato and Robin Wall Kimmerer. ‘Immersive, celebratory… all beautifully illustrated.’ Observer ‘A visual reminder that, like strong oaks from little acorns, we still can create the world in which we wish to live.’ Kerri ní Dochartaigh ‘A thoughtful and incisive view of Nature across the globe.’ The CountrymanTrade Review‘A hit far beyond these shores, this compendium … sparked something of a movement with its ingenious, affection-laden “tree alphabet”.’ Irish Independent, Books of the Year 2023 ‘A thing of beauty… visually and cerebrally immersive.’ Sunday Independent ‘immersive, celebratory and timely … beautifully illustrated by Holten’ The Observer ‘A masterpiece’ Max Porter ‘A visual reminder that, like strong oaks from little acorns, we still can create the world in which we wish to live.’ Kerri ní Dochartaigh  ‘A thoughtful and incisive view of Nature across the globe.’ The Countryman ‘One of the most inspired items of environmental literature in recent years.’ Irish Independent

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Book SynopsisA revised and updated edition of the definitive site guide to this bird-rich Spanish region.Southern Iberia is in the top rank of European birding hotspots, and the fourth edition of this popular book, first published in 1994, continues to ensure that visitors can make the most of the region''s many attractions. The information on all sites has been brought right up-to-date, with revised maps and full updated site access details and species lists. Popular localities such as Doñana, Monfragüe and the Strait of Gibraltar get prominent treatment, but the reader is encouraged to wander further afield to visit other, less well-known but equally rewarding sites, including a number of additional localities that are new to this edition.This new edition is indispensable for all birders visiting this remarkable corner of Spain.Table of ContentsForeword Introduction to the Fourth Edition How to use this book Visiting southern and western Spain Landscape and climate Birds and other wildlife of southern and western Spain Watching seabirds and the migration of raptors and storks Andalucia Extremadura Appendices Further reading Site index Species index

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Book SynopsisRaptors are notoriously hard to identify, even if seen well. Contrary to expectation, it is actually easier to identify raptors in flight than perched, and it is fortunate that most raptors are usually seen in flight! This is the ultimate flight identification guide to Western Palearctic raptors. Covering over sixty species of raptors (over twenty more than the first edition) throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, this deeply researched text reaches even further into the history of these amazing creatures. A stunning photographic guide of never-before-published images, this thorough text covers every plumage and age in breathtaking detail.Trade ReviewThis is a terrific identification guide that will be a must-have for raptor enthusiasts living or travelling in the Palearctic. * CHOICE Magazine *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Introduction Flight Identification of raptors Plumage variations of raptors Viewing conditions Moult Factors affecting flight Previous experience Topography Glossary Hawk-watching in and around Europe by Keith L. Bildstein and Anna Sandor Migration ecology of raptors by Ian Newton Species Accounts References

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Book SynopsisInstant Weather Forecasting has been a perennial bestseller since it was first published nearly 50 years ago. A brilliant concept, its winning formula of 24 clear colour photographs of cloud formations and their accompanying explanatory text enables the reader to read the sky, pick up the clues, and predict what the weather will do. This revised and updated 5th edition takes into account the new ways users can receive professional weather forecasts, factor them into their own cloud observations, and develop an even better understanding of how the weather will change. This bestselling gem of a book will continue to be invaluable to anyone participating in outdoor activities, from farming, gardening and walking to riding, golfing, flying, sailing, fishing - and of course holidaymakers.Trade ReviewA best-selling gem of a book... Invaluable for anyone who works (or plays) in the great outdoors, it will enable the user to foretell, with reasonable accuracy, whether it will rain or blow, not change much or perhaps clear up soon. * Towpath Walk Newspaper *Another gem that's a dog-eared favourite. * Coastal Cruising *Useful in every clubhouse. * Golf Monthly *A handy and information-packed little volume. * Birdwatch *Well worth a place on the bookshelf or in the car or rucksack. * The Countryman *Excellent value and a good cockpit companion. * Classic Boat *Brilliant in its simplicity. Easy to understand. And there's something undeniably cool about being able to predict the weather quicker than you can find a forecast on Google. * Ski + Board *A gem of a book. * 48 North (US) *As relevant now as it was before all these weather forecasting aids were available. Absolutely recommended. * Skywings *

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Book Synopsis"Nourishment will change the way you eat and the way you think."—Mark Schatzker, author of The Dorito Effect "[Provenza is] a wise observer of the land and the animals [and] becomes transformed to learn the meaning of life."—Temple Grandin Reflections on feeding body and spirit in a world of change Animal scientists have long considered domestic livestock to be too dumb to know how to eat right, but the lifetime research of animal behaviorist Fred Provenza and his colleagues has debunked this myth. Their work shows that when given a choice of natural foods, livestock have an astoundingly refined palate, nibbling through the day on as many as fifty kinds of grasses, forbs, and shrubs to meet their nutritional needs with remarkable precision. In Nourishment Provenza presents his thesis of the wisdom body, a wisdom that links flavor-feedback relationships at a cellular level with biochemically rich foods to meet the body’s nutritional and medicinal needs. Provenza explores the fascinating complexity of these relationships as he raises and answers thought-provoking questions about what we can learn from animals about nutritional wisdom. What kinds of memories form the basis for how herbivores, and humans, recognize foods? Can a body develop nutritional and medicinal memories in utero and early in life? Do humans still possess the wisdom to select nourishing diets or has that ability been hijacked by nutritional “authorities”? Is taking supplements and enriching and fortifying foods helping us, or is it hurting us? On a broader scale Provenza explores the relationships among facets of complex, poorly understood, ever-changing ecological, social, and economic systems in light of an unpredictable future. To what degree do we lose contact with life-sustaining energies when the foods we eat come from anywhere but where we live? To what degree do we lose the mythological relationship that links us physically and spiritually with Mother Earth who nurtures our lives? Provenza’s paradigm-changing exploration of these questions has implications that could vastly improve our health through a simple change in the way we view our relationships with the plants and animals we eat. "Nourishment is a conversation between science, culture, and a greater spiritual or cosmological umbrella."—Montana Public RadioTrade Review“Through Fred Provenza’s eyes, a simple meal becomes a wondrous journey into the world, into our bodies, and into our deepest selves. Nourishment will change the way you eat and the way you think.”—Mark Schatzker, author of Steak and The Dorito Effect “In Nourishment a wise observer of the land and the animals becomes transformed to learn the meaning of life. Fred Provenza’s reflections on his long, fruitful career in behavior-based management of landscapes include his joy in observing the natural world around him.”—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation“An absolutely fascinating topic, engagingly written. Fred Provenza will wholly up-end everything you think you know about what you are supposed to eat and why. Nourishment should be the first book read by every student of nutrition.”—Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of Defending Beef“Once again, Fred Provenza shows he is one of the freshest and most insightful thinkers about the role of herbivores (and omnivorous humans!) in our food and land management systems. His clear evolutionary thinking is matched by his keen powers of observation of ecological interactions. This book is a landmark contribution.”—Gary Paul Nabhan, author of Mesquite and Food from the Radical Center“Fred Provenza’s Nourishment is a synergy of the essence of his lifetime of research coupled with commonsense nutritional advice to aid both animals and humans. All readers will benefit from the knowledge revealed in this book. I have long thought Dr. Provenza’s work should comprise a required course in veterinary and medical schools, and Nourishment confirms that opinion.”—Richard J. Holliday, DVM, holistic veterinarian; coauthor of A Holistic Vet’s Prescription for a Healthy Herd“In Nourishment Fred Provenza offers a rich explanation of how animals follow instinctual wisdom of nutritional biochemistry when nested in their proper ecological niche. Drawing from episodes of his years of research and the cycles of life, Dr. Provenza illuminates the fascinating mechanisms by which animals’ innate knowledge of healthy eating is passed on to their offspring and how we humans can learn from the simplicity of animals in our midst. This engaging book provides proof that animals are not mindless eaters—nor should humans be.”—Hubert Karreman, VMD, author of Treating Dairy Cows Naturally“Fred Provenza is a hero of mine. For more than thirty years, he has been a leader in applying scientific knowledge to social good. His deep understanding of how animals behave on the land—why they eat what they eat, how they stay healthy, and how they teach their young—has helped generations of ranchers, farmers, wildlife managers, and university students understand and strengthen their relationships with animals in sustainable ways. We are animals, too, and in this magnificent book, the culmination of a lifetime of learning, Fred weaves together philosophy, nutritional science, memoir, and his humble appreciation for the natural world into an inspiring meditation on our moment on Earth.”—Courtney White, author of Grass, Soil, Hope and Two Percent Solutions for the Planet“In this path-finding and paradigm-breaking book, Provenza combines a lifetime’s worth of scientific work with deep empathic insight to further extend his unique contribution to healing our ailing landscapes, our animals, and the human condition. Across five continents Provenza has led livestock managers to upend traditional beliefs about animals in grazing-browsing systems. Now, in exciting and original fashion, he extends his ideas concerning we humans—animals, after all, who also coevolved in diverse, once nutrient-filled landscapes. In an era when the false pathway of economic rationalism, aligned to industrial agriculture and its food systems, is poisoning the planet and ourselves, Provenza provides a vitally new holistic perspective of our species: a perspective that provides exciting solutions to our Anthropocene and human dilemmas.”—Charles Massy, author of Call of the Reed Warbler“Part mirror and part compass springing from a bedrock of science, Nourishment takes us on an extraordinary journey through bodies of wisdom. This book sets a new bar for how to think about the intersection of food, nature, and ourselves.”—Anne Biklé, coauthor of The Hidden Half of Nature“Fred Provenza has spent his career redefining the ways we understand livestock intelligence when it comes to diet. In this compelling and engaging book, he shares many of those lessons and synthesizes a wide breadth of research and knowledge to challenge some fundamental assumptions about diet, whether it be for livestock or humans. Provenza connects the dots like few have before, offering a new way to see the world and bringing new meaning to ‘you are what you eat.’”—Steve Gabriel, author of Silvopasture and coauthor of Farming the Woods“Fred Provenza has a brilliant, inquisitive, and open-minded spirit, the kind that should live within all of us. Nourishment is the result of a lifetime of observation, experimentation, and incredible insight by a master scientist. This is a book you will read, reread, dog-ear pages in, and tell your friends about. You will be blown away, as I have been. Outstanding!”—Bob Budd, executive director, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust“Throughout his illustrious research career, Fred Provenza has taught us how animals—many of which we choose to eat—learn what they themselves should consume to maintain optimal health. He has now taken these lessons and applied them to the human situation in insightful and clever ways, concluding that we ignore our body’s wisdom to our nutritional detriment. But he goes further, tying his metaphysical ideas about the lives of plants, the nature of food, and the consciousness of cells to his fascinating life adventure. This book is sure to engage, educate, and provoke the reader.”—Gary K. Beauchamp, director and president emeritus, Monell Chemical Senses Center“I could describe this book as simply an enlightening treatise on the philosophy of life, but that fails to do it justice. Fred Provenza uses his life’s experiences as student, rancher, fisherman, researcher, teacher, hiker, cancer patient, and retiree to illustrate vividly the fundamental principles of nutrition not only of animals (including humans) but also of plants and soil. In Nourishment Provenza also offers a rich exposition of his outstanding all-embracing views of life. To read this book is to challenge many of one’s assumptions and prejudices.”—J. Michael Forbes, professor emeritus, University of Leeds; author of Voluntary Food Intake and Diet Selection of Farm Animals“Fred Provenza spent his distinguished academic career becoming a leading authority on the food habits of rangeland animals. In this thought-provoking book, he uses his deep understanding of his four-legged study subjects to cast light on our own nutritional condition in a world where we have become increasingly remote—philosophically and physically—from our food supply.”—Stephen J. Simpson, PhD, academic director, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney“Fred Provenza tells the story of the science behind how animals wisely choose to feed themselves from the variety of plants in the natural world. He integrates that story with the way we humans make food choices in childhood, why we like some foods but not others, and our propensity for addiction. Moreover he shows how animal behaviors shape the natural world and how a healthy ecosystem provides nourishment for our bodies, spirits, and intellects. Nourishment provides the keys for relinking our appetites with our health and happiness.”—William Foley, emeritus professor of nutrition and ecology, Australian National University“Fred Provenza serves up a feast for the mind, heart, and soul. Philosophical, spiritual, and rigorously scientific, Nourishment takes readers on this humble deep thinker’s life journey of discovery, sharing his insights about the nutritional and medicinal wisdom of animals, while clarifying some of our own misconceptions. Like a master mandala artist, Provenza provides perfect balance, drawing together multiple disciplines and belief systems to synthesize a paradigm shift based on wisdom that exists within each of us for eating well and staying healthy. Provenza calls on us to be responsible consumers and more compassionate visitors on this planet.”—Michael A. Huffman, professor, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan

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Book SynopsisThis large-format poster book lets you decorate your walls with images from Katie Scott's Botanicum. Featuring plantlife of all kinds, from right around the world, it's a stunning celebration of all things botanical.

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Book Synopsis*2022 Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal Winner: Ecology & Environment *2022 Nautilus Book Award Special Honors as Best of Anthology For readers of Braiding Sweetgrass and The Overstory From The Center for Humans and Nature, a collection in five volumes: essays, interviews, poetry, and stories of solidarity that highlight the interdependence that exists between humans and nonhuman beings We live in an astounding world of relations. We share these ties that bind with our fellow humans—and we share these relations with nonhuman beings as well. From the bacterium swimming in your belly to the trees exhaling the breath you breathe, this community of life is our kin—and, for many cultures around the world, being human is based upon this extended sense of kinship. Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations is a lively series that explores our deep interconnections with the living world. More than 70 contributors—including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Richard Powers, David Abram, J. Drew Lanham, and Sharon Blackie—invite readers into cosmologies, narratives, and everyday interactions that embrace a more-than-human world as worthy of our response and responsibility. These diverse voices render a wide range of possibilities for becoming better kin. Contents: Planet: What are the sources of our deepest evolutionary and planetary connections, and of our profound longing for kinship? Place: To what extent does crafting a deeper connection with the Earth’s bioregions reinvigorate a sense of kinship with the place-based beings, systems, and communities that mutually shape one another? Partners: How do relations between and among different species foster a sense of responsibility and belonging in us? Persons: Which experiences expand our understanding of being human in relation to other-than-human beings? Practice: What are the practical, everyday, and lifelong ways we become kin? From the recognition of nonhumans as persons to the care of our kinfolk through language and action, Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations is a guide and companion into the ways we can deepen our care and respect for the family of plants, rivers, mountains, animals, and others who live with us in this exuberant, life-generating, planetary tangle of relations. Proceeds from sales of Kinship benefit the nonprofit, non-partisan Center for Humans and Nature, which partners with some of the brightest minds to explore human responsibilities to each other and the more-than-human world. The Center brings together philosophers, ecologists, artists, political scientists, anthropologists, poets and economists, among others, to think creatively about a resilient future for the whole community of life.Trade Review“This collection is a passionate call to turn towards the living Earth with reverence and respect, and in so doing to cultivate new and old forms of curiosity, of understanding, and of responsibility. Across five captivating volumes, Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations brings together a rich diversity of voices and perspectives. Contributions range in form from poetry to interviews and essays, drawing on and engaging with the insights of Indigenous stories, philosophy, the natural sciences, and much more. Ultimately, this is a collection that does much more than simply describe the webs of relationship that are our world of kin. At the same time, it invites and at times pulls the reader into a sense of the fundamental sharedness of all life and our profound obligations, perhaps now more than ever, to hold open room for others to be and to become in their own unique and precious ways.”—Thom van Dooren, author of The Wake of Crows: Living and Dying in Shared Worlds“Essential reading about the question of our time: how to belong. A chorus of beautiful, wise, grieving, exulting, and generative voices, guiding us into true ‘family values’ for a wild living Earth. These collections offer rare and rich insight into how to find, honor, and heal the bonds of blood, place, time, and ethics that knit us to all other beings.”—David George Haskell, author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees"Sometimes when we are working with a document, when it’s growing and changing, we call it “live.” Likewise, this book is live. It’s full of life. It’s living inside you as you read it and you are living inside it. It’s changing you and you’re changing it. May this book be a living document that guides us toward love and care for all kin."—Janisse Ray, author of Wild Spectacle"The Kinship series of books is an ensemble of outstanding essays that reveal the truth that reality is rooted in relationships. After reading these marvellous essays, it becomes crystal clear that there is no reality outside relationships. These books shatter the old story of separation between humans and Nature and explode the belief that nature is a machine and the planet Earth is a dead rock. Here is the new story of the living Earth and a celebration of deep connectivity of life; human as well as more-than-human life. These are inspiring and enlightening essays. They will change your perception of Nature. I recommend these books wholeheartedly!"—Satish Kumar, Founder, Schumacher College, Editor Emeritus, Resurgence & Ecologist“What a joyful series this is, this family of books, crafted with love, clarity, and compassion by a family of poets, scholars, and sages. Together the volumes form a five-part harmony, converging beautifully around notions of kinship and kinning. The authors ask, how do we rightly relate? How may we learn to live well with our kin? Can we listen with sensitivity to the voices and languages of others, the beings with fur, claws, wings, scales, and fins with whom we share the mountains, rivers, seas, grasslands, and forests, places that ring with spirit and meaning, too, who are family, too? The chapters are stories as much as studies, narratives born from experience, wisdom, and observations over many generations. I can’t wait to share this family with my students and colleagues in conservation and anthropology, and with my friends and kin everywhere.“—Dr. Amanda Stronza, Anthropologist and Professor of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University“Kinship is essential reading. Five books of elemental grace and charm, beginning with a spider's web. Each strand glistens in the sunlight, dreaming, catch and release, a journey through the multiverse. Each gathering of words, a page, a tribe, a story of who we are, who we have been, and who we've yet to become, shiny, bright, new, and very old. The DNA of rock and stone, of all our relations, the chemistry of breathing, letting go, and Love. Again, again, and again.”—John Francis, PhD, author of Planetwalker: 17 Years of Silence, 22 Years of Walking “At a time when divisive politics and human-first ideologies dominate public discourse, Kinship provides a deeply-moving, soul-rejuvenating, and course-correcting primer for recognizing and building relationships among all living things. Here readers will find solace in essays and poems about what we’re losing, as well as inspiration for how to live well with other humans—and with our other-than-human kin. But Kinship is more than instructive. Taken together, these exquisite volumes are a balm for the soul.”—Dr. Amy Brady, Executive Director of Orion magazine"Kinship is the type of series I would want to gift to my wild, untamed, and unschooled children, for from its pages springs an education at the end of homogenous time, a crack in the tarmac of ascension, an insurgency of the hitherto invisible. At a time when the human is no longer tenable as a category unto itself, we will need the prophetic voices of these poets, philosophers, mothers, fathers, scientists, thinkers, public intellectuals, artists, and awestruck fugitives to kindle a politics of humility, to help us fall down to earth from our gilded perches, to help us stray from the threatening familiarity of our own image. It is time to meet the others we imagined we left behind: this constellation of stars will guide us."—Bayo Akomolafe, Ph.D., author of These Wilds Beyond our Fences: Letters to My Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home “The Kinship series upends colonial paradigms around humans and our relationship with more-than-human nature. These paradigms have driven mainstream environmental movements to engage in myopic efforts that at times have exacerbated ecological imbalances. Through stories, essays, art, poetry, and more, contributors chip away at the layers that bind our collective colonial ethos. Rather than owning nature, we are urged to think about our kinship with all that is nonhuman. Rather than controlling our environments using methods rooted in human exceptionalism (i.e., we know best), we are urged to learn from our kin. Rather than “using” land, water, and wildlife as “natural resources,” we are urged to be in reciprocity and right relationship with our kin. Rather than labeling birds, rocks, and rivers as “it,” we are urged to think of them as persons who have their own rights. Rather than being static, we are urged to be kinetic (Kin-etic?). Decolonization begins with unlearning, and this is a good place to begin.”—Aparna Rajagopal (she/her), founding partner of the Avarna Group and cofounder of PGM ONE Summit"The wonderful essays gathered here will stir minds and open hearts with the reminder that kinship is about how all things are connected, and that these relationships are best when acknowledged, attended to, and above all, savored."—Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix: How Being in Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative"A powerful, multidimensional work of extraordinary vision and reach whose overarching theme of humans sharing encounters with our other-than-human relations presaged a project out of the ordinary."—Resilience

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Book Synopsis"Tom’s committed career has captured images that will serve as pieces of history for generations to come." — Steve McCurry "... The fascinating images are not only beautiful, they are also a reminder about how important it is to protect our planet's natural diversity." — Hoom Magazine Tom D. Jones is a wildlife photographer: he makes a point of never photographing animals in captivity and portrays them very closely. The results are almost human portraits of impressive animals such as elephants, rhinos, lions, etc. They also carry a clear message: let's take care of these often endangered species and the world they inhabit before it's too late. This is precisely what his friend and colleague Steve McCurry emphasises in the foreword to this great book.Trade Review"In his new book, the Belgian master photographer Tom D. Jones presents a captivating series of black and white images, which depict the unique wildlife of the East African savannah. The fascinating images are not only beautiful, they are also a reminder about how important it is to protect our planet's natural diversity." - Hoom Magazine

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Book Synopsis• Includes body maps for both cats and dogs that clearly illustrate the positions of the Jin Shin Jyutsu energy points and explains how to work with them • Presents step-by-step illustrations and easy, brief explanations for point sequences for general health, first aid, and specific ailments, from ear mites and conjunctivitis to kidney infection, splinters, and anxiety • Provides sections with dog-specific and cat-specific ailments, organized by area of the body and symptoms, with recommended treatment points and sequences ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GENTLE WAY to ease your cat’s coughing or lighten the joint problems of your dog? Or maybe you want to relieve your pet’s stress when going to the vet and help them recover after surgery? A soft touch method for harmonizing energy flow, Jin Shin Jyutsu is an excellent hands-on healing tool to support your animal companion’s overall health and alleviate common ailments and injuries. By calmly placing your hands on certain energy points on your pet’s body, you can release energetic blockages, strengthen the immune system, and stimulate their body’s self-healing response. Easy step-by-step illustrations and body maps for both cats and dogs show how to use this simple system of two-point touch healing. From ear mites and conjunctivitis to kidney infection, splinters, and anxiety, just by holding certain points on the body of your cat or dog you can quickly relieve a symptom or trigger the start of a comprehensive healing process. Jin Shin Jyutsu not only improves their health and well-being but also offers an enjoyable moment of energetic exchange between you and your four-legged friend throughout all phases of life.Trade Review“Animals don’t doubt if energy healing works. All of mine just soaked in the energy when I tried several of the techniques laid out in Jin Shin for Cats and Dogs. Tina Stümpfig has done a remarkable job of instructing the beginner and organizing the material so anyone and their animal can benefit from this book.” * JOAN RANQUET, energy healer, animal communicator, and author of Energy Healing for Animals *“An easy-to-digest manual for cat and dog owners, tackling small as well as more complex topics, whether they are based on health-related or psychological issues. The images and step-by-step instructions allow also those new to this practice to optimally use the correct hand positions to help their pet.” * MELANIE KESSLER, alternative practitioner and Reiki healer for animals and animal psychologist and c *“I highly recommend Tina Stümpfig’s Jin Shin for Cats and Dogs. It is fun to read and the handholds are easy to use. As with humans, you can also activate the self-healing properties of dogs and cats. From physical to psychological problems all is well explained, and the additional use of images makes it easy to understand and thereby suitable for beginners as well as those more advanced.” * KIRSTEN MOHR, animal Jin Shin practitioner *“Every pet owner dreams of an easy, gentle method without side effects that enables them to help their sick dog or ailing cat themselves. The healing flow of Jin Shin Jyutsu makes this possible--simply by touching specific points and areas on the body. Holding certain ‘safety energy locks’ activates energy flows, releases blockages, and thus paves the path to maintaining or restoring health. You can learn how easy and straightforward this is in Tina Stümpfig’s Jin Shin for Cats and Dogs. Her book does not stop at physical ailments only: she also gives useful therapeutic advice on behavioral disorders and psychic problems. An absolute must for every dog- and cat-loving person who wants to help their pet themselves or effectively accompany a veterinarian therapy.” * MONIKA FALCK, animal communicator and family constellator with animals *Table of ContentsPrefaceINTRODUCTION TO JIN SHIN HEALING What Is Jin Shin Jyutsu?The Application of Jin Shin Jyutsu Helpful Hints The Safety Energy LocksGeneral HarmonizersInitial Centering | Getting the Energy Flowing | The Paw Flow | The Main Central Flow | The Supervisor Flows Three Further Important FlowsThe Spleen Flow | The Stomach Flow | The Bladder Flow JIN SHIN HEALING TOUCH FOR CATSHeadEyes | Ears | Mouth and Teeth | BrainRespiratory System Upper Respiratory Tract | Throat | Lower Respiratory Tract Cardiovascular SystemHeart Disease and Heart Failure | Circulation Issues Digestive Organs Stomach | Intestine | Liver | Pancreas and SpleenUrinary System Bladder | Kidneys Reproductive OrgansMale Reproductive Organs | Female Reproductive Organs and Birth Support Coat and Skin Coat | Skin Nervous System Muscle Twitching | Paralysis Musculoskeletal System Back and Spine | Muscles | Ligaments, Tendons, and Joints | Bones Immune System Infectious Diseases Edema, Growths and Tumors Edema | Growths and Tumors Behavior and Psyche Fear and Panic | Insecurities and Nervousness | Startle Responses | Food Envy | Fighting and Aggression | Neglect and Abuse | Sensitivity to Noise Injuries and Emergencies Wounds and Bites | Stings, Splinters, and Thorns | Burns | Concussion | Broken Bones | Bruises | Shock | Poisoning | Heatstroke and Sunstroke | Choking and Shortness of Breath | Operations | Pain | End-of-Life Care Other Issues House-Training | Lack of Cleanliness | Harmonizing Side Effects of Medication | Alleviating Reactions to VaccinesJIN SHIN HEALING TOUCH FOR DOGSHead Eyes | Ears | Mouth and Teeth | Brain Respiratory System Upper Respiratory Tract | Throat | Lower Respiratory Tract Digestive Organs Stomach | Pancreas and Spleen | Intestine | Liver Musculoskeletal System Back and Spine | Muscles | Ligaments, Tendons, and Joints | Bones Urinary SystemBladder | KidneysReproductive OrgansMale Reproductive Organs | Female Reproductive Organs and Birth SupportCoat and Skin Coat | Skin Nervous System Neuralgia | Muscle Twitching | Paralysis | EpilepsyImmune System Infectious Diseases Distemper | Leptospirosis | Parvovirus | Kennel CoughEdema, Growths and Tumors Edema | Growths and Tumors Injuries and EmergenciesWounds | Hematoma | Bites | Stings, Splinters, and Thorns | Burns | Concussion | Broken Bones Bruises | Shock | Poisoning | Heatstroke and Sunstroke | Choking and Shortness of Breath | Cramps | Operations | Travel Sickness | Pain | Overexertion | End-of-Life Care Psychological Issues Fear and Panic | Insecurities | Nervousness and Startle Responses | Homesickness | Jealousy | Food Envy | Fighting and Aggression | Stubbornness | Neglect | Abuse | Sensitivity to NoiseOther IssuesHouse-Training | Eating Rubbish or Feces Lack of Cleanliness | Harmonizing Side Effects of Medication Alleviating Reactions to VaccinesEpilogueAcknowledgementsPhoto Credits Recommended Reading About the Author

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Book SynopsisOn 20 July 1969, US astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. NASA Mission AS-506 Apollo 11 Owners' Workshop Manual is the story of the Apollo 11 mission and the 'space hardware' that made it all possible. This manual looks at the evolution and design of the mighty Saturn V rocket, the Command and Service Modules, and the Lunar Module. It describes the space suits worn by the crew and their special life support and communications systems. We learn about how the Apollo 11 mission was flown - from launch procedures to 'flying' the Saturn V and the 'LEM', and from moon walking to the earth re-entry procedure. This new edition of the book celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.Table of Contents1 Introduction 2 The Saturn rocket 3 The Command and Service Modules 4 The guidance, navigation and control system 5 The Lunar Module 6 The space suits 7 Communicating from the Moon 8 Beyond Apollo 11 Appendices

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Book SynopsisPuffins, the breathtaking new book from internationally renowned photographer Kevin Morgans, celebrates the iconic Atlantic puffin and its place in the ecology of the British Isles. With their brightly coloured beaks, quirky personalities and comical movements, the ‘clowns of the sea’ are the best loved of all Britain’s seabirds. In a series of stunning images from his award-winning portfolio, Kevin Morgans documents their lives and their relationship with our windswept coast.Trade Review‘This is a portfolio of sheer excellence, and will be a very tough act to follow.’‘A beautiful, mesmerising portrait of the iconic puffin.’‘A visual delight from start to finish.’‘An intimate look into the lives of one of our planet’s most beloved bird species.’‘The ultimate book on our Atlantic Puffins.’ * Bird Watching Magazine *‘Stunning imagery of everyone’s favourite seabird by a photographer at the top of his game.’‘As a lifetime admirer of puffins, I found this to be a wonderful book that captures the true majesty of this incredible bird.’‘A true masterpiece. Kevin’s photography tells such an intimate story of the life of this charismatic bird.’‘A stunning collection that captures the character and charm of one of our most iconic seabirds.’

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Book SynopsisThe leopard gecko has fast become the reptilian version of the parakeet or goldfish. Considered to be the first domesticated species of lizard, the leopard gecko is attractive, perfectly sized and easy to breed. The Leopard Gecko Manual takes a close look at all the characteristics that have made these attractive lizards so amazingly popular in the pet world. Written by a team of herpetoculture experts and gecko specialists, this up-to-date and authoritative guide provides reliable guidelines for keepers who wish to add a gecko to their vivarium and maintain their pet in excellent health and condition. This second edition is revised and expanded to include new sections on Gecko nutrition and feeding, housing, breeding and banded Geckos.Trade Reviewif you're thinking of taking the reptile ownership plunge and you're like me and partial to geckos, this book is ideal to get you started. --Pet Lady Blog

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Book SynopsisThe must-have photography monograph of the year, this lavish oversized volume celebrates David Yarrow's unparalleled wildlife imagery.Trade Review“David Yarrow doesn’t take pictures; he makes them. Critical of typical, documentary-style wildlife photography, the British fine-art photographer is known for getting up close to his subjects—even when they’re apex predators. ‘The biggest difference between art and reportage is proximity and emotion,’ he says. To achieve that difference, Yarrow might face a charging elephant, wait for the perfect 10 minutes of light, or spend 99 hours tracking a tiger. His new eponymous book features 150 of his most compelling photographs.”—American Way Magazine

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Book SynopsisNotorious for being one of the best reptiles to have as a pet, the bearded dragon is a well-known favorite. This new edition of the best-selling The Bearded Dragon Manual is packed with valuable information that will help you learn how to take quality care of your pet and provides a close look at all the characteristics that have made these attractive lizards so popular. From breeding, egg-laying, and basic genetics to creating a comfortable habitat, understanding typical bearded dragon behavior and personality quirks, diet and nutrition, and so much more, each detailed chapter will help bring you closer to this remarkable reptile! Also included are insightful answers to dragon owners’ frequently asked questions on tank size, feeder crickets, shedding issues, tail rot, and more. New edition includes updated information on care and feeding, breeding, habitat, and habits, as well as eight new sections.

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Book SynopsisDiscover your next great adventure in this beautifully illustrated guide to the world’s best travel destinations. From the ultimate hiking trails to the most scenic train rides, the most stunning coral reefs to the most epic mountain retreats, you’ll find 1,000 exceptional destinations to add to your travel bucket list!Each of the 1,000 bucket list-worthy trips in this sumptuous volume has been carefully vetted and selected by the celebrated travel experts at National Geographic. On every page you’ll find new ways to experience beloved destinations, such as a family-friendly tour of Rome’s beloved ruins or a foodie tour of New York City, as well as hidden gems around the globe, including a cloud forest in the mountains of Ecuador and a kite surfing excursion off the coast of Spain. Plus, find detailed road trips to places near (Charleston, South Carolina) and far (a grand tour of Switzerland), along with top 10 lists from the best ski resorts to t

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Book SynopsisFormed of dramatic volcanic scenery and home to marvellous beasts, it is little wonder that the first name for the Galápagos archipelago was Las Encantadas: the enchanted islands. In this captivating natural history, Henry Nicholls builds up the ecology of these famous islands, from their explosive origins to the arrival of the archipelago's celebrated reptiles and ultimately humans. It's a story of change, as the islands are transformed from lava-strewn wilderness into a vital scientific resource and a sought-after destination for eco-enthusiasts. Charles Darwin's five-week visit to the Galápagos in 1835 played a pivotal role in this transformation. At the time, he was more interested in rocks than finches, took the opportunity to ride on the backs of tortoises and fling iguanas into the sea. Yet the Galápagos experience can be an inspiration and it certainly was for Darwin, pointing him towards one of the most important and influential ideas in the history of humankind: evolution by natural selection. And with the Darwin connection, the Galápagos found itself propelled onto a global stage. But worldwide fame has brought with it nearly 200,000 tourists a year and a human population now estimated at around 30,000. If Darwin learned from the Galápagos, so we must too. For what happens here in years to come foreshadows the fate of threatened ecosystems everywhere on earth.Trade ReviewThis is the perfect book to take with you if you are planning a trip to the Galapagos. Even if you are not, this is an enchanting and enlightening account of the most scientifically significant islands in the world. -- Tim BirkheadThe tale of the Galapagos's solitary giant tortoise and conservation icon was told to great effect by Henry Nicholls in Lonesome George. Sadly, George died in 2012, but happily Nicholls is back with an account that shows why the archipelago that shaped Darwin's ideas still matters to us. * New Scientist *If you read one book about the Galapagos, make sure it is this. Thoroughly researched, highly informative, lively and enjoyable, each page is a real pleasure to read. Whether a first time visitor or an old Galapagos 'hand' Henry Nicholls' The Galapagos should accompany you on any physical or virtual trip to these Enchanted Islands -- Ian Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, Galapagos Conservation TrustThe Galápagos is an engaging, informative introduction to the natural history of the archipelago. Charles Darwin's observations and insights on the Galápagos are effectively used to highlight key aspects of the archipelago's terrestrial and marine environments, the unique plants and animals they support, and how our understanding of them has evolved since his historic visit. The book also gives an accurate account of the current challenges facing Galápagos, and how they are being addressed. A surprising amount of information is packed into this concise and entertaining overview. An inspiring pre-travel read for anyone considering a visit to 'Darwin's Islands'. -- K. Thalia Grant and Gregory B. Estes * Darwin in Galapagos *Henry Nicholls has turned his most observant eye on the remarkable, but less often described human history of Galápagos. The future of the islands and their distinctive biota will be in the hands of the national lawmakers and growing number of Galápagos residents as the isolation enjoyed by Galápagos becomes a distant memory. In his lively prose, Henry lauds the unsung scientists and conservation managers who work doggedly and successfully on persistent wildlife management challenges wrought by human accident or design. His persistent focus on stewardship-man's absolute responsibility to nature-is refreshing and important in the world of natural history literature. A thoughtfully executed and excellent read. -- Johannah Barry, president of the Galapagos ConservancyTourists should read this book before they visit the Galápagos. In a relaxed and conversational style, Henry Nicholls introduces many of the animals and plants that live there, explains why so many are strange and unusual, and shows how natural history has been first shaped by geological history and then influenced by human history. The book is an inspiring call to visit the islands, to experience the animals and plants in the sea and on land, and to join in conserving them. -- Peter Grant, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, and coauthor of * 40 Years of Evolution: Darwin's Finches on Daphne Major Island *From the fiery volcanoes that forged the islands to the invasive species that threaten them, this is a brilliantly clear and enthusiastic guide to all that matters about the Galapagos. Henry Nicholls manages to combine detail with passion as he takes the reader through everything from Charles Darwin's inspiration for evolution to the sad demise of the last giant tortoise of his kind, Lonesome George. I only wish the book had been written in time for my visit to the islands five years ago. -- David ShukmanIn his new natural history, Henry Nicholls transforms the Galápagos archipelago from perennial example to subject. Chapters devoted to geology, plants, animals, and insects finally provide a landscape framework for some of biology's most famous stories-from Darwin's finches to the giant tortoises that give the islands their name. Nicholls also includes a welcome and thoughtful discussion of the archipelago's most recent and transformative arrivals, its people -- Thor Hanson, author of Feathers and The Impenetrable ForestI have been to the Galápagos five times, including an extended private expedition retracing Darwin's footsteps in these magnificent islands that so inspired his insights into the evolutionary process. I thought I knew everything about the islands until I read Henry Nicholls's The Galápagos, the best single-volume work I've found and the perfect guide for travelers. Every visitor to the islands should be given a copy of this marvelous natural history to read in order to fully appreciate the richness of one of the most important pieces of real estate on the planet. A captivating book. -- Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of Why Darwin MattersHenry Nicholls has added an informative, fun and up-to-date read to the Galapagos literature. By sprinkling his discussion of the geology, biology and history of the islands with quotes from historical figures, including Darwin, the Bishop of Panama, Herman Melville, and many others, he takes the reader on a unique journey of discovery of the wonders of Galapagos. He merges historical information with up-to-date science and conservation, then brings the reader back to the sites and species they will see when visiting the islands. Most importantly he discusses why Galapagos matters and the challenge to all of us to ensure its long-term protection. -- Linda J. Cayot, Science Advisor, Galapagos ConservancyIn an enticingly structured, thoroughly enjoyable, rolling narrative, [Nicholls] discusses the islands' volcanic origins, native flora and fauna, and human explorers and residents. He also describes with firsthand excitement and surprising detail what it's like to be in the presence of the islands' remarkably tame wildlife, from the playful red-footed boobies to Pacific green turtles and the enormous tortoises for which the archipelago is named and which were slaughtered to the brink of extinction.... There is no question, as Nicholls eloquently reveals, that we all have a stake in protecting the Galápagos. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisEducation is a critical part of safety - and not getting lost, or knowing how to get found if you do, is one of the most important lessons. Simple techniques to navigate out of dangerous situations are the focus of this handy waterproof reference guide, along with basic compass use and travelling by simple bearings. Contents also cover navigation skills around obstacles, pacing beads, aiming off, and dead reckoning. Developed by noted survival expert and woodsman Dave Canterbury, this is one of a 10-part series on survival skills. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisBe inspired by nature and play the card game suited for all.Team up the component parts of a tree - from the leaf, flower and fruit plus the tree itself to form a tree family!Discover eleven of the most beautiful flowering, fruiting trees with Ryuto Miyake's stunning, detailed illustrations and text about each tree written by the Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.See which of your friends knows the most about nature! Take the time to learn the different components and see if you can identify the trees next time you're outside!Based on Happy Families, this game will inspire you take in nature's surroundings and understand all the elements that make up the worlds beautiful trees.UNIQUE: A beautifully boxed card game for 2-5 players based on Happy FamiliesBEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED: Collect all four components of tree families across 44 beautifully illustrated cards. Keep this safe within the wonderfully illustrated box measuring 115 x 90 x 35mmFUN & COLOURFUL: Each card has been illustrated by Ryuto Miyake, illustrator of Animal Mah-jongHIGHEST QUALITY: These educational cards have been carefully considered and written by the Head of Arborteum at the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew.GIFT: If you're looking for the perfect family gift, Tree Families is the ultimate for learning and having fun!Other similar Laurence King Publishing titles include: Fashion Families, Flower Families, Super Happy Families and Wonder Women

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Book SynopsisThis book is an essential reference tool for all those who have a passion for trees as well as those who work in tree-related professions whether they be garden managers, forest and country park wardens, foresters, woodland managers or those working in the fields of arboriculture and horticulture. Moreover, this volume is also intended to be a textbook of trees aimed at arboriculture, horticulture and forestry students studying at National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels and for candidates of the Royal Horticultural Society's Diploma in Horticulture and the Society's Master of Horticulture [RHS] Award. Other books in this field have tended to concentrate either on the science of trees, or have specialized on their management, culture or aesthetics. This volume, however, is a comprehensive study that illustrates the relationship between all these subjects.

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Book SynopsisOn two days in 1761 and 1769 hundreds of astronomers pointed their telescopes towards the skies to observe a rare astronomical event: the transit of Venus across the face of the sun.United by this momentous occasion, scientists from around the globe came together to answer the essential question: how can the universe be measured? In Chasing Venus Andrea Wulf paints a vivid portrait of the rivalries, triumphs and misfortunes that befell these men, along with their passion and determination to succeed. This extraordinary book tells their story and how one single event prompted the first international scientific collaboration.Trade ReviewAndrea Wulf's story of the chase is an enthralling, nail-biting thriller and will undoubtedly prove one of the non-fiction books of the year. Even if you fail to see the Transit, don't miss this wonderful book -- John Harding * Daily Mail *A fine example of scientific storytelling about astronomers of the Enlightenment observing the transit of Venus ... narrated with elegant expertise. -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *Historian Andrea Wulf’s Chasing Venus is beautifully paced, alternating between expe­ditions, with lush descriptions of the often arduous journeys involved. * Nature *[a] truly excellent book…Andrea Wulf tell[s] the rip-roaring tales of numerous expeditions that set off around the globe to observe the Venusian transit of 1761…[She] communicate[s] the verve and energy – not to mention the perilous nature – of the expeditions. -- Marcus Chown * New Scientist *It charts the story of a truly international effort; to not only observe the transit ... but to present the real quest that was to finally determine the distance between the Earth and the Sun ... [an] outstanding book! It's the book of the year so far – do not miss it! * Astronomy Now *

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Book SynopsisAs a drug detector dog handler with HM Customs & Excise, Pam Mackinnon searched all over the UK, from oil rigs to cruise ships, postal depots to airports and vehicles to houses. Combining her detection skills with her work as a dog training and behaviour consultant, Pam developed the UK's most successful scentwork training programme that teaches all dogs to become detector dogs. With almost 30 years' experience, you and your dog are in safe hands as Pam takes you through each stage of scentwork, beginning with introducing your dog to a specific scent, through starter searches, and on to advanced work, indoors and out. Aided by illustrations and full colour photographs of many different breeds at work, this manual will open up a whole new world of activities that you and your dog can enjoy together.Trade ReviewAided by illustrations and full color photographs of many different breeds at work, "Detector Dog" is throughly 'user friendly' step-by-step instruction manual that will open up a whole new world of activities readers and their own canine companions can enjoy together. Impressively informative and profusely illustrated, "Detector Dog" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Pets/Wildlife collections in general, and Dog Training supplemental studies reading lists in particular.- Midwest Book Review; For busy dogs with busy owners this is a great positive technique to improve your skills as a dog wonder and build a greater bond with your dog whilst all the time having fun. Thank you Pam for writing such a useful and fact filled book that I will happily pass onto my clients from now on. - Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors; Detector Dogs is not just for adults. Its reading level may be 12+, but any mature child or adolescent dog owner will respond enthusiastically to such a novel challenge. The dog's repose is on of uninhibited joy! Y Detector Dog is the journey of a lifetime though the nose of your dog. - Geelong Obedience Dog Club. If you wish to learn about the introduction to scent work, "Detector Dog" is a great book ... crammed with great information. In this book you will learn a little about how scent works, with a few nice diagrams and full-colour illustrations and photographs to show you how scent travels, important information to know. Pam walks you through handling searches with your dog. She clearly explained some handling techniques and how to develop search patterns, so you are not missing anything. She also explains different patterns and includes a very helpful troubleshooting section. If you are looking to learn about scent detection/nosework, I highly recommend this book. - Association of Professional Dog Trainers.Table of ContentsPart 1 What is Talking Dogs Scentwork(R)? Part 2 How it worksPart 3 Scentwork SkillsPart 4 The SearchPart 5 Getting started Part 6 Search specificsStarter searches Intermediate searches Advanced searches Part 7 Troubleshooting

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Book SynopsisThe international bestseller: a visually stunning photographic tour of Earth, from the astronaut who made us fall in love with our planet all over again

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Book Synopsis'An ideal introduction [to Stephen Hawking]' - Independent 'Astonishingly comprehensive - clearer than Hawking himself' - Focus Stephen Hawking was a world-famous physicist with a cameo in The Simpsons on his CV, but outside of his academic field his work was little understood. To the public he was a tragic figure - a brilliant scientist and author of the 9 million-copy-selling A Brief History of Time, and yet spent the majority of his life confined to a wheelchair and almost completely paralysed. Hawking's major contribution to science was to integrate the two great theories of 20th-century physics: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. J.P. McEvoy and Oscar Zarate's brilliant graphic guide explores Hawking's life, the evolution of his work from his days as a student, and his breathtaking discoveries about where these fundamental laws break down or overlap, such as on the edge of a Black Hole or at the origin of the Universe itself.Trade Review'An ideal introduction' -- Independent'Astonishingly comprehensive - clearer than Hawking himself' -- Focus

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Book Synopsis''In the gloom it came along the branches towards me, its round, hypnotic eyes blazing, its spoon-like ears turning to and fro independently like radar dishes . . . it was Lewis Carroll''s Jabberwocky come to life . . . one of the most incredible creatures I had ever been privileged to meet.''The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is home to woodlice the size of golf balls, moths the size of Regency fans and the Aye-Aye, a type of lemur held by local superstion to be an omen of death. But when Gerald Durrell visited the island, the destruction of the forests meant that the Aye-Aye and many other creatures were in danger of extinction.Told with his unique sense of humour and inimitable charm, Gerald Durrell''s The Aye Aye and I is the final adventure from one of Britain''s best loved conservationists.Trade ReviewA renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time -- Sir David AttenboroughIf animals, birds and insects could speak, they would possibly award Mr Gerald Durrell one of their first Nobel prizes * Times Literary Supplement *Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe crazy story of how Soviet scientists in Siberia in the 1950s embarked on a project to turn foxes into dogs through selective breeding—and managed it within mere generations.Trade Review"If you read only two biology books this year, this is one of those two that you simply must read."--Grrl Scientist "Forbes " "Dugatkin and Trut have collaborated to produce a well-written and engaging account of one the most influential biological studies ever: the fox farm experiment. Over sixty years ago, a Russian geneticist dared to start an experiment to see if foxes could be domesticated and what variables contributed to the changes domestication brought. The courage involved in starting such an experiment in the USSR of the 1950s was remarkable; the dedication and curiosity that have kept it going ever since have led to stunning new insights on the mechanisms of domestication. Every biologist should read this book!"--Pat Shipman, author of The Invaders: How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction "An excellent book. The writing is clear and makes for fascinating popular science. This book will attract a wide audience, and I know of none other with such a dramatic combination of good science and social history."--Aubrey Manning, coauthor of An Introduction to Animal Behaviour "Over the course of decades, Russian scientists transformed wild foxes into friendly pets. They used no science-fiction genetic engineering. They simply guided evolution. This landmark experiment tells us some profound things about domestication, behavior, and ourselves. Finally, someone has written a book-length account of the experience--and a fascinating one at that."--Carl Zimmer, author of Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea "In the first book on the famous 'Siberian fox study, ' this extraordinary chronicle recounts one of the world's most important animal studies. It has not only provided stunning insights into how domestication works and how fast it can happen. It also helps us understand the origins of our deepest non-human bonds--our friendships with our dogs--and where and how they came into being."--Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel "Profound insights into how dogs evolved from wolves come from a remarkable, multidecade experiment on foxes that was carried out under the supervision of the Russian geneticist Dmitri Belyaev from the 1950s onward. Because much of the research was published in Russian, How to Tame a Fox, which is cowritten by Lyudmila Trut--a central figure in the project over many decades--will be widely welcomed for the extraordinary detail it contains." --Tim Flannery "New York Review of Books "

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Book SynopsisEach year the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is seen by millions through a global tour and international media coverage. Portfolio 29 displays the full collection of 100 images awarded in the 2018 competition. Selected by an international jury for their artistic merit and originality from more than 40,000 entries, they represent the work of almost 100 nationalities. Displaying different styles, techniques, and ways of seeing, the collection is both a showcase for photographers who specialize in documenting the natural world and a celebration of nature.

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Book SynopsisThis is the incredible true story of the unbreakable bond forged between Treo, the world's most highly decorated dog, and his handler Sgt. Dave HeyhoeWhen Dave Heyhoe was sent to Afghanistan to help detect the Taliban's murderous roadside bombs, he knew he'd need a special dog by his side. Luckily for him, his closest pal Treo, a staggeringly brave ball of energy and mischief was with him every step of the way. The two friends had a miraculous understanding that helped them save countless lives but, as they embarked on a roller-coaster emotional ride, Dave realized he needed Treo more than he could ever have imagined. Tear-jerkingly sad one moment, laugh-out-loud hilarious the next, It's All About Treo is a moving and uplifting story that will melt the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, Finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, Shortlisted for the Stella Prize, Highly Commended in the Wainwright Prize for writing on global conservation, and a Sunday Independent Book of the Year. How do whales experience environmental change? Has our connection to these animals been transformed by technology? What future awaits us, and them? Fathoms blends natural history, philosophy, and science to explore these questions. Giggs introduces us to whales so rare they have never been named and tells us of whale ‘pop’ songs that sweep across hemispheres. She takes us into the deeps to discover that one whale’s death can spark a great flourishing of creatures. We travel to Japan to board whaling ships, examine the uncanny charisma of these magnificent mammals, and confront the plastic pollution now pervading their underwater environment.Trade Review‘Fathoms is perhaps the finest book written about whales since Moby Dick was published 170 years ago. It’s also one of the best accounts I’ve ever read of the interaction, intended and unintended, between humans and other species — a work of genuinely literary imagination.’ -- Verlyn Klinkenborg * New York Review of Books *‘Fathoms took my breath away. Every page is suffused with magic and meaning. Humanity’s relationship with nature has never been more important or vulnerable, and we are truly fortunate that at such a pivotal moment, a writer of Rebecca Giggs’s calibre is here to capture every beautiful detail, every aching nuance. She is in a league of her own.’ -- Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes‘Fathoms is a magnificent book, as grand and profound in its sweep as the whale itself. Rebecca Giggs is a brilliant writer - her prose packed with wonders and glittering with ideas.’ -- Philip Marsden, author of The Summer Isles‘Fathoms reads like a poem. Its virtuoso thinking is a revelation. I can’t think of many books in which love for the world and uncompromising, ever-deepening rigour come together in this way. Time slows down. This book makes a permanent dent in the reader.’ -- Maria Tumarkin, author of Axiomatic‘Fathoms is a marvel: a glorious, prismatic, deeply affecting hymn to the beauty, majesty, and extremity of whales and the human imagining of them.’ -- James Bradley, author of Clade‘[A] lyrical, wide-ranging meditation on whales and their complex relationship with humanity … Meticulously researched and full of fascinating information.’ -- Books+Publishing‘In Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs rips the metaphors off whales and brings us closer than we can usually get to the creatures themselves. Along the way, she shows us how intimately whales are shaping our lives, how they change air quality, and crime, and even our conception of time. I can't stop thinking about the connections she has unearthed, how a whale is connected to a meteor, a mother's breast, a landfill. Under the spell of her deliciously evocative prose, you get the sense that you are truly, finally, glimpsing a whale in full glory. Like the busks she writes about—tiny missives carved into whalebone corsets by sailors—this book leaves an imprint.’ -- Lulu Miller, author of Why Fish Don’t Exist and co-founder of NPR’s Invisibilia‘Seafaring scrutiny of whales, their oceanic environment, and the dangers to their survival … Giggs presents … scholarship in crisp, creatively written chapters addressing the many layers of the whale population’s unique physiology and evolutionary history, sociality, above-water balletic athleticism, and enigmatic ‘biophony’ of their vocalisations. Most importantly, she analyses how their behaviour can be predictive for the Earth’s future … Giggs reiterates that the whale and its life, legacy, and precarious environmental state are reflective of the greater issues the Earth faces, from ecological upheaval to overconsumption. Whether describing the majesty of the blue whale or the human assault on sea ecology due to paper and plastic pollution, the author’s prose is poetic, beautifully smooth, urgently readable, and eloquently informative. Her passion for whales leaps off the page, urging readers to care and—even more so—become involved in their protection and preservation. Throughout the book, the author’s debut, she brilliantly exposes ‘how regular human life seeped into the habitats of wildlife, and how wildlife returned back to us, the evidence of our obliviousness.’ Refreshingly, she also reveals glimmers of hope regarding what whales can teach the human race about our capacity to ecologically coexist with the natural world. A thoughtful, ambitiously crafted appeal for the preservation of marine mammals.’ STARRED REVIEW * Kirkus Reviews *‘Astonishing ... utterly original ... Fathomsis an attempt to interpret our contemporary moment – and in particular our relationship with the non-human world – through the glistening figure of the whale in all its myriad aspects ... The language of Fathoms has a remarkable, almost gothic intensity. The style is vivid and estranging and luridly compelling, full of weird lights and unexpected textures ... A remarkable literary event because it is a new and hugely ambitious kind of nature writing, verging on poetry. It is itself a whale cure, thrusting us into the dark intestine of the whale, among the indigestible plastics and other pollutants, the better to hear the conscience of tomorrow.’ -- Andrew Fuhrmann * The Monthly *‘In Fathoms, Rebecca Giggs unravels a powerful nonfiction narrative, masterfully blending history, philosophy and science.’ -- Dan Shaw * Happy Magazine *‘This book is nothing less than a small masterpiece. … Rebecca Giggs’ Fathoms – the world in the whale is a remarkable meditation on, nominally, whales, but through them the delicacy and intricacy of human relationships with the environment, and the history and legacy of our intimate and devastating impact upon ecosystems … The book is a striking piece of narrative nonfiction, philosophical and personal at once wrestling with liminal vulnerabilities, fantasies, conceits and projections, and it deserves global attention.’ 4.5 STARS -- Anna Westbrook * ArtsHub *‘Fathoms is horrific, poetic and profound; a morbid dirge shot through with celestial light. As well as being an extensively researched and deeply considered study, the book is also a wunderkammer of tales that illustrate the hot mess of human aggression, obliviousness and folly … Fathoms is a vast book, the scale of which brings to mind the blue whale, anatomically mysterious and the largest creature to have lived. Giggs weaves together cosmological phenomena with their deep-sea reverberations to give us a book that feels universal.’ -- Justine Hyde * The Saturday Paper *‘With remarkable detective work, author Rebecca Giggs explores the habitats and migratory patterns of whales to reveal a great deal about them, and even more about us. It is a hauntingly beautiful examination of the moral force of animals, offering hope as well as despair.’ -- Jeff Maynard * Herald Sun *‘A work of bright and careful genius. Equal parts Rebecca Solnit and Annie Dillard, Giggs masterfully combines lush prose with conscientious history and boots-on-the-beach reporting. With Giggs leading us gently by the hand we dive down, and down, and down, into the dark core of the whale, which, she convincingly reveals, is also the guts of the world.’ -- Robert Moor, New York Times bestselling author of On Trails: an exploration‘Rebecca Giggs’ Fathoms is a triumph, a deliciously rich work of art that, as if by magic, combines exquisite prose that floats off the page and into your heart with scientific accuracy and epic scope. This is by far the best book about whales I have ever read. What an achievement!’ -- Wendy Williams, author of The Language of Butterflies and New York Times bestseller The Horse: the epic history of our noble companion‘One of the most beautifully written nonfiction books I have read in a long time. It's so hard to do justice to the immense importance of whales and the lessons they have for us all. Rebecca Giggs does an extraordinary job of bringing together the science, the history, and the brilliance and fragility of whales.’ -- Christine Kenneally, author of The Invisible History of the Human Race‘Fathoms is a work of profound insight and wonder.’ * X-Press Magazine *‘The book is a masterpiece. I am astonished that it is Giggs’s first, for it reads like the work of a far more experienced author ... Giggs’s exquisite prose is so striking as to be almost poetic, pulling the reader up constantly, either to savour a particularly apposite phrase, or to ponder a deep, unexpected connection. If a whale warrants a pause, then Fathoms warrants many.’ -- Tim Flannery * The Australian *‘Lyrical, meditative and deeply researched, this gorgeous book by WA writer Rebecca Giggs is one to linger over.’ * The Weekend West *‘This is a heavy read, but a fascinating and vital one.’ -- Ellen Cregan * Kill Your Darlings *‘Fathoms is beautifully written, always aiming for the bigger picture: what it means to live in the world; and what it means to be enthralled by the world we live in and destroying it … Fathoms is a glorious, beautiful and deeply important book.’ -- Magdalena Ball * Compulsive Reader *‘Truly remarkable … Each page is full of wonder and revelation.’ -- Grey Kelly * Talking Heads Magazine *‘This is an unforgettable, meticulously researched work that examines the ways that we’re all connected — with whales, with the, environment and each other.’ -- Eliza Henry-Jones * Organic Gardener Magazine *‘Meticulous research and stunning prose … unique, introspective and poetic.’ -- Zoya Patel * Canberra Times *‘[A] moving homage to the whale … A book that begins with obsequies for a whale ends by enlarging our knowledge of, and sense of wonder about, this magnificent species. It is non-fiction told with the vivacity and moral authority that was once reserved for fiction.’ * Australian Financial Review *‘Giggs’ meticulous research is itself awesome. Every page has its breathtaking revelations … For all this wondrous detail, the whale remains a lens through which to consider humanity’s relationship with the environment … Fathoms’ exhilarating poetic language is richly allusive and orchestrated … this marvellous work of haunted wonder ends with a fiercely unabashed vision of humanity moved 'from indecision to action', for whales, for love, for the world.’ -- Felicity Plunkett * Sydney Morning Herald *‘[A] delving, haunted and poetic debut. Giggs is worth reading for her spotlight observations and lyricism alone, but she also has an important message to deliver … [S]he uses whales as invitations to consider everything else: the selfie-isation of environmentalism, the inherent worth of parasites, Jungian psychoanalysis, solar storms, whale songs records going multiplatinum and so much more. In the cascade of mini-essays that results, Giggs comes off as much as a cultural critic as a naturalist.’ -- Doug Bock Clark * The New York Times Book Review *‘There is much to marvel at here … Deeply researched and deeply felt, Giggs’ intricate investigation, beautifully revelatory and haunting, urges us to save the whales once again, and the oceans, and ourselves.’ STARRED REVIEW * Booklist *‘In the whale, Giggs truly does find the world. She finds clues that unlock how humans have engaged nature — tales of greed, aggression, wonder, desperation, longing, nostalgia, love, curiosity and obsession. Her prose is luminous … tracing humankind’s continuing intersection with these alluring creatures, Giggs ultimately uncovers seeds of hope and, planting them in her fertile mind, cultivates a lush landscape that offers remarkable views of nature, humanity and how we might find a way forward together.’ STARRED REVIEW * BookPage *‘Fathoms immediately earns its place in the pantheon of classics of the new golden age of environmental writing.’ -- Stephen Sparks * Literary Hub *‘A profound meditation … Giggs explores how whales have permeated our lives and the many ways we have invaded and transformed theirs. Each chapter orbits a different aspect of this long and fraught relationship — commodification, pollution, voyeurism, adoration, mythology — swerving wherever Giggs’s extensive research and fervent curiosity take her … Giggs’s prose is fluid, sensuous, and lyrical. She has a poet’s gift for startling and original imagery … The lushness of her sentences and the intensity of her vision inspire frequent rereading — not for clarity, but for sheer pleasure and depth of meaning.’ -- Ferris Jabr * Los Angeles Review of Books *‘[W]idens the aperture of our attention with a literary style so stunning that the reader may forget to blink ... In a story that extends across several continents, Ms. Giggs marshals lapidary language to give the crisis a compelling voice. Her prose, like the oceans in which her subjects roam, is immersive; her sentences submerge us in a sea of sensations … [M]ore descriptive than prescriptive concerning the plight of whales and, by implication, the health of the Earth. But as with George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant and E.B. White’s Death of a Pig, Ms. Giggs, tending the final hours of a humpback on an Australian beach, reminds us that paying attention to the close of another creature’s life can be its own form of moral instruction.’ -- Danny Heitman * The Wall Street Journal *‘Immersive … Illustrating the interconnectedness of all life and the ways man's depredations travel from the smallest creatures to this largest of Earth's animals … In lyrical language, Giggs leads readers on a journey through underwater cultures and the place of whales in the chain of life. Recommended for readers interested in nature, ecology, and environmentalism.’ -- Caren Nichter * Library Journal *‘A searching debut … Giggs displays a keen awareness of what it means to write about a creature whose future is just as uncertain as our own.’ * The Nation *‘As well as being dazzlingly well researched and conveyed, the language in Fathoms is wonderful in that it never becomes sentimental and yet is thoroughly moving. Combining reportage, cultural criticism and poem as a call to action in the spirit of Rachel Carson, Giggs is an assured new voice in narrative nonfiction … Gloriously, she presents whales as poets … We need to be moved – therein the particular power of literature to expand the parameters of our compassion … More prescient for its time than the author could have imagined.’ -- Abi Andrews * The Irish Times *‘Fathoms is brilliantly full of wonder.’ * The Economist *‘Masterly.’ * The New Yorker *‘Glorious and astounding.’ -- Robbie Arnott‘With distinctive prose, as philosophical as it is scientific, this is a challenging and illuminating portrait of the oceans’ great cetaceans and what they mean to people.’ -- Helen Scales * BBC Wildlife Magazine *‘Beautiful and insightful.’ -- Pádraic Fogarty * Sunday Independent *‘By looking at the largest of our mammalian cousins Rebecca Giggs returns us to ourselves. This vital and urgent book awakens our wonder and our fear. In dense language, rich in poetry and science, it fathoms a deep empathy for the living world.’ -- Antony Gormley‘Some of the most alive, inventive writing on the planet is nature writing, and Giggs’ Fathoms is glorious proof. Ostentatious, mythic and strange, this is the kind of book that swallows you whole. Entirely fitting for its subject.’ -- Beejay Silcox * The Guardian *‘Fathoms is the result of years of research and contemplation: a cultural, historical and ecological exploration of whales and their place in human life and thought … It is simply one of the most miraculous and illuminating accounts of animality I’ve come across. Read it, read the whole magnificent tome: you’ll leave it filled with renewed awe for cetacean existence.’ -- Geordie Williamson * The Australian *‘A poetic and surprisingly wide-ranging blend of natural history, science and philosophy.’ -- Gemma Nisbet * The Weekend West Australian *‘This remarkable study of whales examines much more than the magnificent creatures of the deep. Through brilliant detective work, Giggs explores the habitats and migratory patterns of whales to reveal a great deal about them, and even more about the human impact on the oceans.’ * The Chronicle *‘Giggs’s style is all the more impactful for its sparseness … Her journey encompasses everything from whale-hunting ships in Japan to Loch Ness monster conspiracy theories in Scotland, with all of the disparate subjects deftly woven together by clipped, polished prose.’ -- Caroline Crampton * The Mail on Sunday *‘Wonder pours out of every page of this gorgeously written and daringly imagined book.’ -- Laura Miller * Slate *‘Extraordinary.’ -- Hannah James * Australian Geographic *‘A book like this shows the best of what reflective, creative non-fiction can do.’ -- Kate Evans * ABC Radio *‘Rebecca Giggs’ enthralling Fathoms: the world in the whale presents whales as immense, enigmatic, intelligent and majestic sea creatures, but also vividly describes the intricate ecosystem of the vast oceans in which they live and die. Drawing from science, history, literature, art and mythology, Fathoms is both epic in scale and rich in detail about the life cycle of whales, their behaviours and sociality.’ -- Donna Lee Brien * The Conversation *‘Lyrical … Facts like these are eye-opening. But the book shines most brightly in its poetry … Giggs’s writing has an old-fashioned lushness and elaborateness of thought … its finest passages — and they are many — awaken a sense of wonder. That other lives as marvellous and mysterious as these still exist is, for the moment at least, a reason to celebrate.’ -- Richard Schiffman * The Washington Post *‘Like fine tapestry, strands unite into a coherent work of great beauty. Yes, this is a book about what whales mean to us, but it’s also about how to interweave and admire cultural and biological stories, metaphors, and meanings.’ -- David George Haskell * Geographical Magazine *'An incredibly wonderful book ... [Giggs] is a fabulous writer' -- Brian Eno‘Giggs' work [Fathoms] … on whales, climate change and pollution has been one of the most affecting [books] I've read in a while.’ -- Sophie Overett * The Courier-Mail *‘It’s rare for whales to get what they deserve from our species, but Giggs’ fascinating and poetic natural history starts to pay back a portion of an impossible debt.’ -- Christopher J. Preston * Geographical Magazine *

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